Three’s Company Chapter Four: The Seven Veils
Three’s Company
Chapter Four: The Seven Veils
Three’s Company Part 4
He drove the rest of the way home trying to think of excuses to use, each one just as bad as the first. As he pulled into the drive, he saw that yet again, there was no need for any excuse Rachel was not home. He walked in, saw the children doing their homework at the kitchen table and smiled. Jenna was more like her mom than he was in that respect. She was a slave driver when it came to making sure the twins’ homework was always done and ready for the morning.
He kissed Jenna’s forehead and high fived the boys. She continued her lessons with them going back over their spelling words, as Cain walked wearily up the stairs toward the bedroom. He loosened his tie, unbuttoned his shirt, pulling the tail of it out of his half-zipped pants (that he had not noticed until now). Pulling up the hamper lid, he shoved them down deep in the pile of laundry he would get to as soon as possible. His shoes came next, kicking them to the side, his socks off and then his pants, crumpled near the socks in a heap.
He sat down in the antique rocking chair that had been a wedding present from his mother and closed his eyes. He was tired. So damn tired. Work was getting to him; his life with Rachel was a constant spiraling black hole. The only thing that gave him any sense of enjoyment was the children and the pets. At that moment, BoogerBear, his brown and white spotted beagle came lopping in the bedroom and jumped in his lap, his little toe nails digging deep in the top of his thighs. Cain yelped, and situated the dog, still rocking, looking out at the gathering storm.
He showered and shaved, and dressed for dinner. They ate in silence as they did every night, with the occasional question of “What did you do today? Anything knew? How are things at the hospital? Any new interns to have to train?” Rachel’s sentences were usually no more than four words if that, and Cain tried to make light of the suffocating tension that was ever present for the sake of the children. Thankfully dessert was served, table cleared and the dishes in the washer. Cain kissed the children good night, and went to pack for his Vegas trip.
It was a welcome relief knowing Rachel was already asleep when he came into the bedroom after the long shower he had taken.
She was rolled over on her side toward the wall snoring lightly. He crept into the room, slipping off his worn brown house shoes and pulled the sheet down. He gently got into bed, and lay on his side. Looking up at the black ceiling, he began to think of the actions that had transpired today between him and Monique. He fell asleep with a hard on, dreaming of a naked blond spread eagle on the desk in front of him…
The office scene faded into another time and place. Music played soft and low, something from Arabian Nights. He could hear the faint sounds of sitars, thought of Ringo Starr for some reason, and laughed. There were pillows of many colors, hanging lanterns with different colored flames that put him to ease. He inhaled the fragrance of roses and Frankincense, and smiled. This was something a man could get used to quick. He opened his eyes to see Monique yet again, dressed in veils and scarves. She was dancing the forbidden dance of the seven veils. He had seen it once in an old movie. He sat up on the large pillow as the warm winds blew gently through the open tent he had now realized he was in. He watched this gorgeous body sway and swing, bend back, forth, from side to side to the music. He was entranced. She had cast a spell on him. He was hers, all of him, heart mind soul and body. One by one, the scarves came off, as she twirled slinging them through the air; he watched them fall to earth like a sleeping angel from Heaven.
Purples, oranges, yellows, hues of reds, dark blues, greens, so beautiful all of them were a rainbow of colors coming down, washing over him like a waterfall. There were two left and her veil, and he could already feel himself getting aroused. She had bent down, with each time she passed him, she kissed him through her scarf, and he could feel her, feel her skin next to his through the silk. Her hands were soft on his cheek, as his hands wondered over her body finding her hips and trying to bring her down to him, but she kept escaping his grasp every time.
One more, he thought. One more and I will see Monique’s beautiful face. He waited anxiously as she slowly pulled the veil back to reveal her face.
“RACHEL!!!” Cain screamed waking himself and Rachel up out of a sound sleep.
“What?!” “Cain I swear what has gotten in to you?” Rachel pulled at the sheet, rolled over and made a noise that Cain knew all too well.
Cain was drenched in sweat. His pillow was wet. His tee shirt was wet. He flung the sheet back, trudged to the bathroom to get a drink of water. He turned the light on, and closed the door so not to disturb Broomhilda. Turning the faucet on, he noticed he was shaking. He laughed at himself. What a frigging dream. Dream or nightmare? Okay. Okay, it’s my subconscious telling me that it has got to stop. Back on the straight and narrow for you Cain ol man. No more hanky panky. You can get your marriage back on track. It can happen. Many have strayed and have come back to have wonderful marriages and have been made all the stronger for it.
No one has to know. You’re a lonely middle aged man who seeks love and affection that you’re not getting at home and it’s your own damn fault no doubt that you don’t. You work, Rachel is busy. I mean come on. Time to plan a getaway, a nice vacation for just the two of you, get a nanny for the children for a weekend and put things right.
Cain sat there on the commode thinking things out. Does anyone else sit here in the middle of the night doing this, he wondered.
After the Vegas trip, this marriage is back on. It has to be. Whether she loves me or not, there has to be a part, of me, that loves her still or I would not have dreamed that. I’ve had three children by her. I made a life with her. I stayed in this town, took this job and have done what I done for her so she could have her profession. I have sacrificed for her. So yes, I do love her, and I will win her love back.
Monique would understand, he was sure of it. Just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl year after year. And if he couldn’t win Rachels love? Then did it matter? But it had to be one last shot didn’t it?
He stumbled back to bed as quietly as he could, the dream still flashing in his mind, the veil coming down, seeing Rachels face in a death mask of evil, her hands coming up, her nails extending to claw out his eyes.
Darkness Calls 